Oil can



May 29, 1928. 1,671,771

7 c. F. LONG 1 OIL CAN Filed June 2, 1925 Patented May 29, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE 1. Lone, F CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOB T0 DOVER STAMP- ING a MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, A COR- PORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

Application filed June 2,

My invention relates to oil cans and especially to that type of oil can which has a nozzle through which the oil can be poured for lubrication or othewise, such a can being particularly useful in connection with automobiles or engines of any character, and

it comprises a closure for such a can of such character that it will control both the nozzle and the opening through which the can may be filled.

My invention will be understood by reference to the drawings in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a can embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 being a plan thereof.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the type of can showing the closure in closing position;

Fig. 4 being a similar view, the closure being in open position.

Fig. 5 is a cross section of the can looking from its bottom upward and showing the closure in closed position;

Fig. 6 being a similar view, the closure being in open position.

Figs. 7 and 8 are modifications of the closure. 7

1 is the can which may be of any convenient size or shape and is provided with a handle 2. Itstop section 3 is preferably dome-shaped and has in its centre an opening or recess 4 in which is soldered or otherwise attached a pivot pin 5. This pivot pin serves as a centre on which the closure 6 is mounted. 7 indicates the permanent attachment of the top to the body of the can.

The top section 3 of the can has in it two openings, one 11 to which is attached the nozzle 12, and the other a filling opening 13.

6 is the closure for these openings which is formed to fit closely inside the top 3 of the can, reaching preferably down to its junction 7 with the can itself. The closure has also therein openings, one 14 which is adapted to register with the opening 11 in the top of the can, and the other 15 located preferably opposite the opening 14 and in such a position as to register with the opening .13 in the top of the can. This closure is mounted on the pin 5 to turn thereon, and to the pin, preferably below the closure, is attached one end of a spiral spring 9 the OIL CAN;

1923. Serial No. 643,074.

other end of which is extended out as at 10 and soldered or otherwise attached to the inside of the closure, the purpose of this spring being to maintain the closure in a permanent closed position.

Through the-opening 13 extends a thumbpiece 16 which is mounted on the closure and by which the closure can be moved to open the filling and and 11.

The spring 9, 10 is so arranged in practice that it will hold the closure normally in. position to close the openings 13 and 11. By pressing laterally against the thumbpiece 16 the closure will e turned so as to cause the openings 14 and 15 to register, respectively, with the openings 11 and 13 in the top of the can.

Thus it will be seen that normally the parts will lie in the position shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5 where these openings are closed by the closure. If it is desired to use the can to supply lubrication for example, the closure being pushed round into the positon shown in Figs. 4 and 6, the can may be filled through the opening 13 or the lubricant can be poured from it through the nozzle 12, the opening 13 in this case letting air into the can. In either case as soon as the oil cup or other lubricant holder is filled, the thumbpiece 16 is released by the thumb of the hand holding the handle 2 and the spring will cause the closure to move round to close both openings so that there will be no waste of lubricant from the nozzle 12.

It will be noted that this device is substantially dustproof and waterproof and that the thumb of the same hand by which it is lifted by the handle 2 may be used when the end of the nozzle has been properly placed in the oil cup to open the passage into the nozzle, leaving the other hand free to direct the nozzle if necessary, and that the mere releaseof the thumbpiece 16 by the thumb will cause the flow of .lubricant to be shut off. The spring 9, 10 may be omitted as shown in Figs. 7 and 8 in which case the closure is operated by hand.

While the abovedescribes the best form of my invention now'known to me, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that it may be otherwise embodied. As shown and described above, the preferred form of clopouring openings 13 sure is automatic and, if this is not desired, the spring 8 may be dispensed with as shown in Figs. 7 and 8.

I have shown at- 12 a nozzle of apeculiar fiexible kind, which is well known and is available for reaching parts, in an automobile ior example, which are difiicult to reach with a nozzle which is not flexible, but an ordinary straight nozzle may be substituted for the nozzle shown if desired, as my invention relates to the closure -for a nozzle and not to the nozzle itself.

The closure for the nozzle opening may be omitted in which case the closure will only be of su'tticient size, shape and location to close the inlet opening.

hat I claim as my invention is 1. A device of the kind described having a handle, a top provided with an inlet opening and a. nozzle opening said inlet opening being located in proximity to said handle, and

a closure located inside the top and also provided with openings adapted to register with the openings in said top, means normally holding said closure in closed position, said closure being provided with means projecting through said inlet opening whereby said closure may be opened ,by a finger of the hand grasping the handle.

2. A device of the kind described having a top provided with an inlet opening and a nozzle opening, and a closure located inside the top and also provided with openings adapted to register with the openings in said top, said closure being provided with means projecting through said top whereby said closure may be moved, in combination with a spring connected to said top and to said closure whereby said closure will normally be held in position to close said openings.

CLARENCE F. LONG. 

